Samb Cheikh Tidiane is a Senegalese professional basketball player who plays as a centre. Tidiane began his professional career in Spain, playing for WTC Cornella in the Spanish Second Division in 2005. In two years, Tidiane averaged 9.6 points with 7.7 points and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting at 51.4% from the court and 76.1% from the line. He averaged 26 minutes per game. He had more blocked shots, individually, than the team totals of all but one of the teams in the league.
In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers picked the Senegalese in the 2nd round of the Draft, at 51st overall. However, he was traded out immediately to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Maurice Evans. Tidiane played for the Pistons in the NBA Summer League and had an average of 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. After a dismal performance in the Summer League, he was sent back to WTC Cornella on loan for the rest of the season.
This time ‘round, Tidiane averaged 10.5 points per game with 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in a season where he was hindered by injury. He came back to the Pistons for the Summer League and performed better than the last year, ending up with a contract at the end of the summer league.
Tidiane’s debut came against the Los Angeles Lakers where he had 4 rebounds, 2 points and 2 blocks in 15 minutes of play. This was his last bit of action before being assigned to the NBA D-League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. In February 2008, he was recalled to the Pistons’ roster after scoring a triple double with the Mad Ants.
In November 2008, along with Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, Tidiane was traded out to the Denver Nuggets and it was Allen Iverson who went the other way. Samb was straightaway assigned to the Colorado 14ers in the NBA D-League and in January 2009, traded him out to the Los Angeles Clippers.
